Indonesian Woman Files Class-Action Suit Against Prabowo, Bahlil Over Fuel Shortage

October 15, 2025 | 03:49 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Plaintiff Tati Suryati plans to file a new class-action lawsuit in Indonesia over the recent fuel shortage at private gas stations, naming President Prabowo Subianto as one of the defendants.

Tati’s lawyer, Boyamin Saiman, said mediation with the defendants, including the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), PT Pertamina (Persero), and PT Shell Indonesia, is scheduled for next week. If mediation fails, the case will move forward to court.

“We have agreed to pursue a class-action case,” Boyamin said after a hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

Boyamin explained that the upcoming lawsuit would list the President, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Minister of Trade as defendants, along with Pertamina and private fuel retailers.

“Suing the minister alone isn’t enough. We have to go all the way to the president,” he said.

He argued that the president has a duty to protect all citizens, regardless of social or economic status, especially given that fuel availability is vital for public mobility and welfare.

Background of the Case

During the second hearing of case No. 648/Pdt.G/2025/PN Jkt.Pst, all parties were represented. The ESDM Ministry appeared as the first defendant, Pertamina as the second, and Shell Indonesia as the third.

Tati Suryati, represented by Boyamin, said she is a regular user of Shell V-Power Nitro+ (RON 98). On September 14, 2025, she was unable to find the product at several Shell stations around Alam Sutera and Bintaro, which had all run out of stock. She eventually refueled with Shell Super (RON 92) instead.

According to Boyamin, a statement by the Energy Minister on September 20, 2025, announced that the government would continue selling imported fuel only through cooperation with Pertamina.

The plaintiff considers this policy to have caused the shortage and to constitute an unlawful act, claiming the ministry pressured private fuel companies to buy gasoline from Pertamina.

Boyamin further argued that this policy violated Article 12(2) of Presidential Regulation No. 191/2014, which guarantees equal rights for all business entities to import crude oil, as long as they obtain recommendations from the Energy Ministry and permits from the Trade Ministry.

Compensation Sought

The lawsuit seeks both material and immaterial compensation. Tati demands Rp1,161,240 in material damages, calculated from the cost of two refuelings with Shell’s RON 98 fuel.

She also seeks Rp500 million in immaterial compensation, equivalent to the value of her car, citing fears that using lower-quality RON 92 fuel could damage her vehicle.

Since September 14, she has refrained from driving her car due to concerns over possible engine damage caused by the lower-octane fuel.

Boyamin said the case aims not only to defend Tati’s rights but also to push for fairer treatment of consumers and private fuel distributors under Indonesia’s energy policy.

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